Milford Labor Unions Cry Foul

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and unfortunately those union workers deemed expendable are the "measure of choice. The current job market is terrible, and in Milford if you are a security guard, a Public Works employee or a low level aid be thankful your contract was renewed this year.

Last week I read in the newspaper that the School security guards at Foran and Law, who were being let go by Superintendent of schools Elizabeth Feser, were very upset. They now claim there is an outlandish conspiracy to specifically target them as punishment for forming a labor union.

We have heard this once before through the city attorneys office when Cynthia Anger was fired for allegedly forming a Labor Union. We later learned the truth that Cynthia Anger was not fired for forming a labor union, but was instead fired for insubordination. The kind of insubordination that denied our Mayor the right to be a deciding tie breaking vote on the P&Z board.

Kevin Lyddy was chastised for voting improperly, and Democrat Suzan Shaw won the chaimanship the legal way. This however, was not without a fight because in the 5-5 tie the Mayor demanded that he be given the legal authority to break the tie with His vote. Cythia called this illegal and it is alleged she lost her job over it. It is fair to assume that there was illegal activity because a settlement was reached that was very favorable to Ms. Anger. So we must be careful when we talk about such delicate issues as Union Busting in Milford and the propensity for our city leaders to demand our employees break the law. The law must never again be treated like a mere inconvenient platitude to be ignored.

Earlier this week I was contacted again by another upset individual who also expressed concern over union busting in Milford and was concerned and afraid that placing her name out there as the "whistle blower" would cost her her job. We have read about the back room deals that go on in town when it comes to high paying jobs, and we also know that there are a large number of Son's, Father's, Daughters, Sisters and Cousins working together in City Hall. Many of them got employed due to nepotism and politics rather than merit. The policy of helping ones family members might be in the rational interests of those families, but it undermines the authority, health and integrity of public service; of which is funded by the people who live in Milford.

My friend was forced to retract a great deal of information placed on the Internet because of fear. This happened during the time we were appointing the Energy Czar. This was another job like the Superintendents Job that was awarded to Jim Whittaker the head of a local Labor union in Milford. While Jim has no formal training in energy management conservation or abatement he was given the job for reasons that we can only speculate on. My contact who works for the city of Milford alleged that Whittaker sold out his union for a substantial pay increase. After hearing, again the concerns of the High School Security guards I have to wonder what are the odds of two similar Union busting stories coming at me in the same month.

This issue is potentially very divisive because the local labor union workers who now appear to be targeted are being treated like "Third class citizens" while the "elite" local rulers, break all the rules at the expense of the people who demand better from our leaders.

We must question the integrity of the entire system, we must ask why our Police chief should make over $180,000.00 a year, and our new unqualified Superintendent should receive Apx. $140,000.00. These grossly exaggerated salaries are at the expense of a couple of security guards who earn a sub-poverty salary of $22,000.00 a year. Where is the justice and how has corruption, greed and avarice gotten so out of control in our town. The greater tragedy is why, yet again, during this campaign season are we not hearing the candidates defend and prosecute these very immoral, corrupt, and selfish acts by the cruelty and evil that is nested so comfortably in the highest offices in Milford?

The only thing that I can assume is that we have Cowards running for Mayor this year. Last week my stomach was in knots as I heard yet again the elite leaders of our community speak to the local proletariat in terms of endearment.  To be crystal clear "I don't give a damn" how much you all "Love Milford" how we are "Going to get More for Less" or that you even "F*$#%G Grew up here!" I really really do not give a Damn!

This year I would like to see some real leadership addressing the corruption and injustice that per- mutate all levels of city hall. Starting with Corrupt hiring practices, and the rights of workers and taxpayers who are being fleeced and lied to about everything. We have Big Big issues to resolve and if the people of this city are so naive to elect our next Mayor based on terms of endearment than this city deserves all that it has coming to it.

My final thought is that you not only pass this along, but actually make some phone calls to both Bob Joy, and Ben Blake and insist that they condemn the people mentioned here for their criminal practices.

Since they are both well versed in the law they should have no problem finding what areas of the "Equal Opportunity Employment Act" or " Fair Labor Standards Act." Etc.. were violated.

But in case they forgot what they learned in Law School the below link is provided as a reminder.

http://employment.laws.com/

Rocco J. Frank Jr.

The Looting of Milford Taxpayers Alive And Well

One thing that has been ongoing in our community in the last several years is hypocrisy. The town leaders, as we have just seen at the state level, preach an agenda that condemns wasteful spending and record tax increases. But when those tax increases just happen to benefit their friends in the local controlling political party then the taxpayers of Milford are told to relax, that these increases are "minor."

The Democratic Governor and his liberal cabal are using the same argument, telling the taxpayers of the state of Connecticut to "relax" that the state increases are "minor." While I already spent considerable time discussing the exploitation of the states taxpayers in this blog I plan to shift focus to the exploitation of Milford's taxpayers.

Lets begin with a reminder that our taxes have doubled in just a short 12 years. This doubling was accompanied by city services being cut to the lowest level Milford has ever had. This doubling and cutting has arrived during the most severe economic downturn since the Great Depression.

Lets look at today's news and work in reverse. Astonishingly our Mayor Jim Richetelli is not running for re-election, he instead found a way to escape the wrath of his terrible decade of "tax and spend" leadership in favor of a job that appears to be completely invented out of "politics." Lucky for the mayor this new job "deputy operations chief of schools" pays him 20% more money than he was earning as the Mayor. Wow! We can only assume that this post is being created with the approval of the Republican dominated board of Education.

Greg Smith the Republican Chair of the Board of Alderman has been at odds with the school district because they claim they are "Broke." They have closed schools, fired administrators, and threatened non-tenured teachers that they need to find new jobs. While this was going on the Mayor was scheming to deplete their budget another $120,000.00 plus his benefits and carrying costs.You would think that some respect would be allowed for the parents of our kids who have amassed in record protests. They have filled school auditoriums more than once in the last several years and as a result this Mayor has aggravated and opposed our schools and their improvements time and again.

Back in 2009 when Jonathan Law wanted an addition it was the lone dissenting vote of one brave Republican Alderman that improved our kids school conditions. Teachers, and parents pointed out that teaching was going on in the hallway on carts, and student restrooms were so dingy that the girls at the time were using the men's room.

Then came the wasteful Czars, the land use Czar, the Blight Czar, The Mgat Czar, and now our Mayor appears to have appointed himself as the Education Czar tapping into a budget that is in terrible terrible trouble. Our schools have been impacted by the loss of millions from the Federal Government, have been victimized by  "No Child Left Behind" disparaged by a monumentally unfair ECS formula at the state level and taxed Milford's home owners into the ditch to pay for failure. Failure that rendered our students with terrible CAPT test scores at the state level. Our Schools according to Ms. Feser rank in the Bottom 1/3 for elementary schools, and the bottom 2/3 for middle schools.

Our last two Supers were a joke, one being fired for writing letters of recommendation to a teacher who was later arrested for having an affair with his student, and another arrested for lewd and perverted conduct toward his staff. Now we are going to add our former Mayor to a high level position in education. This position is one where he will keep company with individuals who are intellectually superior to him. Individuals who had to do the hard work of graduating with advanced degrees from universities that actually taught their students the complex mechanics of running a school.

The Mayor now seems to pompously and arrogantly trivialize this right of passage, he is attempting to use politics to create a job that he never had, to do a job that he never did, and is adding to an education problem that is never ending.

My step daughter and her husband had to get advanced degrees just to be considered to teach in a classroom. She has had to pay hefty college loans back and prove to countless professors and higher education administrators that she was even competent and capable enough to hold a state teaching licence. She then was offered a job that barely paid the minimum payment on her student loans.

The news today makes a mockery of the entire education system, proving that a person like our former Mayor can just sidestep into one of these positions politically. Despite the added financial hardship to the school budget, and the fact that his new post may require Three or Four bonafied teachers to be laid off, where does the school system and its administrators get off "signing off" on this incredibly political appointment.

Thus far it appears there was a rush to hire him. No serious ads posted for the job, no meaningful interviews of who the best candidate is for the post, and most troubling no public debate over the need for this post. Since when, for the sake of welfare, do we invade random jobs for politically connected people? The idea that the city of Milford should be creating jobs to help individuals who are too lazy or too unwilling to go out and find one (they way the rest of do) is really the epitome of corruption.

When Jim Amann stepped down and tried to create a crony job under Speaker Donavan, the people of our state complained loudly. The pay was substantially cut to match his credentials, he then refused the job. Why are we going to repeat this dangerous precedent at the local level? The worst form of corruption in government is nepotism, and favoritism if we allow this appointment to occur without a fight the parents and teachers of Milford deserve everything they have coming to them.

The final straw will be if the Board of Alderman pass the bloated school budget as yet another amazing surprise. Suppose we should all be so naive to think that the Mayors new post and the Superintendents demand for new money is somehow not a conflict of interests. This appointment has now marred any sincerity in purpose the Board of Alderman or the Board of Finance has. They are both Republican Controlled and their actions will be viewed as highly suspect. Could it be that the Mayor was offered a $120,000.00 a year job in exchange for passing the bloated school budget? Someone should find out.

TO READ THE OFFICIAL AOL HUFFINGTON POST PATCH PROPAGANDA CLICK HERE

Milford Embraces The Idea Of One High School.. Chaucer Miffed.

Nothing less than the complete reorganization of the city's public school system, including the possibility of one high school, will be needed to resolve long-term budget issues, school officials said Monday night.

Under one plan being considered, the three middle schools would be closed and the two high school buildings, Joseph A. Foran and Jonathan Law, would be converted to middle schools, school board chairman Mark Stapleton said. "That's the current thinking, but we have a lot of ideas to explore," he said. "Part of that would be a new high school to serve the city; that isn't a conversation I am looking forward to having."

TO CONTINUE READING FRANK JULIANO STORY CLICK HERE

MY Previous post on this JonathanForan High idea:

"Perhaps the High School name is a bit odd but it is the only play on words I can think of when it comes to the very idea of merging the two schools into one.

Milford's budget continues to be hampered by the economy, its associated deflation in tandem with long term unemployment, and of course taxes, taxes and ever increasing property taxes.

Well last week after looking at the city's proposed budget and reading the repair and improvement costs on Milford's schools I had to pinch myself. The nightmare of $100,000,000.00 in repairs just seemed like I was trapped in a taxpayer nightmare, a nightmare where everyone gets 3%-5% raises while massive teacher layoffs loom on the horizon yet again. Only problem was... well I am not dreaming and yes I was very awake and if you are not, then you need to wake up for this one.

Today I made several hasty phone calls, sent lots of e-mails, spoke to countless experts and concluded that our two High Schools will have to eventually merge into one. The benefits of doing so are immense. The risk of not doing so and applying expensive "band aids" certainly not a smart option.

The green movement in town has been pushing for more ecofriendly projects, and with the "skyrocketing" cost of school repairs a "green Leeds" certified "world class" high school is starting to make sense. A Leeds certified High School would be the first of its kind in CT and would save the city a great deal of energy costs.

The best way not to throw away good tax dollars on crumbling buildings, is to challenge the logic of spending the equivalent of a new school, on two old energy inefficient buildings that need endless and costly repairs.

The epiphany is coming, and when it does our leaders will hopefully realize it is more cost effective to build a brand new H.S.from scratch. Milford's schools I believe have entered into this reality, but has yet to embrace enough conservative proponents.

The main challenge (at the moment) is to locate a suitable building site. Thankfully I did some research and found a good candidate. The building site that I propose involves the recently purchased 7.6 acres on Burnt Plains Road. The property abuts other sizable lots, also owned by the city and is right near the Milford YMCA of which offers a great Indoor swimming pool, and a soccer field. It would also be in the company of Platt Tech and far away from the fast food chains that tempt our kids into poor nutrition.

This would certainly be the best answer for a new school that would house apx 3,000 kids in a centrally located part of our city. Since Milford already owns the lots land costs would be minimal to none. Some costs to the taxpayers, could be recouped by leasing out the old High Schools, relocating crowded middle schools, or converting them into senior living centers.

The, consolidation would be costly at first but over time would save Milford's taxpayers millions of dollars, while in tandem increasing our local property values. Fewer resources and personnel will be dedicated to the maintenance, and daily management of a well designed facility.

With strong momentum, favorable support, and a serious effort Jonathan Foran High School could be a reality within four or Five years if we start taking education costs seriously now."

Rhorig Will Not Seek Re-Election Republicans Face New Challenges

The Thursday night meeting of the Milford Republican Town Committee was in fact an emergency meeting to fill the vacancy left by Board of Education member Rhorig. As many may know the Rhorig's were subjected to a criminal investigation over underage drinking, and on a separate issue were dealing with a sexual assault charge involving her twin sons. Although the police found no wrong doing on the part of Rhorig and school Superintendent Polanski who was at the High School Graduation Party for Chelsea, the pressure, and negative publicity proved too great and in light of these problems her choice to drop out became clear.

Their new choice to replace Rhorig will be announced soon, and is more bizarre than the Republican's opening their Headquarters in the same plaza with the annex to the Independent party Headquarters.

While I plan to comment later on this, I will say that their new candidate to replace Rhorig is unbelievable so check back time to time for details. Sorry to keep you in suspense but I expect that there will be even more backlash toward the Republicans when I reveal what I know.

In the meantime, the Republican Party is still struggling with Defectors, and a dwindling base of support. From the Richetelli Drug Rehab Furlough, to the Rhorigs, to the loss of their former RTC chairman, and many other defectors, it is quite certain that forces within the Republican Party are at work "tearing it apart" and, even when confronted and shown in plain sight they continue to erode their base.

While I wish the best for Milford, I see Richetelli's campaign in real trouble. Last election he barely beat Kerri Rowland in a two way race. This year the Democrats have a much more articulate candidate and the Republicans are in a three way race against their former chairman Peter Spalthoff who is more capable and competent than Richetelli.

Quite sadly the Republicans continue to struggle, mainly because their leadership is weak, their support base fractured, and the greater Republican party as a whole mired in Bush era corruption. But one item really hurting the Richetelli campaign has been its crippling of our schools in Milford. Last year he presided over a panic of 180 teachers being fired, petitions by kids and parents with thousands of signatures and a standing room only protest over the school budget.

This year Richetelli tried to force teachers at Jonathan Law to teach on carts and out of Janitors closets because he refused to support a desperately needed addition. Thankfully the mayor was overruled by a sensible board of Alderman.

In short this mayor has been a menace to public education, and every teacher and student in town should take notice and vote accordingly. When education suffers Milford's kids pay, they pay by failing state tests like the recent embarrassing results of the CAPT test scores putting Milford at the bottom of the state in Math and English.

Milford needs board of education members and a Mayor who believe in building a "world class" school system, not a partisan political machine that puts more "Rich" in Richetelli. As it stands our mayor will cost Milford over Three million dollars in lifelong, pension and family medical benefits if re-elected. Milford cannot afford "Rich"-etelly. Lets remember to vote for our futures this year and not line the pockets of greedy politicians.

Above photo from the Milford Democrats who have a clear plan for the Milford Republicans.

Polanski Displeased With Milford Kids CAPT Test Scores

Superintendent of Schools Harvey B. Polansky says he is “displeased” with the scores city high school students achieved on the Connecticut Aptitude Performance Test.

That displeasure will manifest itself in a road show of sorts as select school officials travel to high schools across the state to see what those districts are doing to ensure good test results, Polansky said.

“I want to see what the best high schools are doing,” Polansky said. “I am displeased with the high school results (here).”

At Monday’s school board meeting, there was a somber mood as officials pored through CAPT results, which have been on a downward trend since 2007. Milford ranks near or at the bottom in several categories when compared to communities of similar size. School officials were a little more upbeat over the Connecticut Mastery Test scores. The CMTs are administered to students in third through eighth grade.

For the CAPTs, in Milford’s District Reference Group, the 450 tenth-grade students who took the test ranked second to last when compared to 25 other similar communities in math, fourth from the bottom in science, and second to last in reading and writing.

“As you can see, there has been a decline in Milford test scores this year,” said Michael Cummings, who is assistant superintendent of schools for curriculum and instruction. “We’re especially concerned about writing, which has been Milford’s strong point.”

School board member Tracy Casey, D-2, noted this year’s scores are lower in every category except science. Cummings said staff has done an “excellent job” realigning that curriculum. But, he said, since 2007 the science numbers have still dipped.

“Taking a look at this, I’m sure you are not impressed,” Majority Leader Greta Stanford, D-1, said to administrators. “What is administration’s plan to remediate this?”

Cummings said the administration is “not impressed,” and plans to study the numbers in depth. He said the administration will study who has been teaching ninth- and tenth-graders. He also said students may need more time to take the test.

School board candidate and parent Jack Fowler, R-1, said he has researched the test scores, and what is equally disturbing is that, of the communities in its reference group, Milford has the third highest per-pupil expenditure, at $12,354.

“We spent more, the kids got less, and the taxpayers have the privilege of footing the bill for this travesty,” Fowler said. “We are paying for champagne but getting dishwater.”

Cummings said the number of students scoring at below basic and basic levels is climbing, and the reading scores are of “great concern.”

Board member James Santa Barbara, D-5, questioned whether the district is losing some of its more talented younger students to private schools as Milford continues its trend of doing “reasonably well” on the CMTs, while not as well on the CAPT.

ORIGINAL BRIAN MCREADY POST

17 Year Old Milford CT Girl Goes Missing

Police are asking for help in the search for Felicity Costin, 17, a local teen reported missing Friday by her foster parents, who live in Milford.

Costin is described as African-American, about 5 feet, 2 inches tall and weighing about 110 pounds. It's not known what she was wearing.

Police said that she left home last Wednesday, and has not been seen since. It's believed that she may have gone to New Haven, where she has friends.

Anyone with information about Costin's whereabouts is asked to call Detective Sgt. Antonio Vitti at 203-783-4766.

Foran and Jonathan Law Students Graduate From High School

Speakers at the Joseph A. Foran High School graduation Thursday evening in Milford had a hard time saying goodbye.

"I'm very bad at saying goodbye, so I'll just say 'See you soon!,' '' valedictorian Nichole Geoffrion told her classmates.

Salutatorian Megan Holton said she is looking forward to seeing her friends this summer, but also at the Class of 2009's reunions throughout the years, so goodbyes weren't called for. "I expect to see many successful, accomplished, happy people,'' she said.

Class president Juliana Mazza also avoided the "G' word in her speech. "I'm going to say that I'll be seeing you around, and let's make more memories.''

Assistant Supt. of Schools R. Michael Cummings, the former Foran High principal, is another person with a lot of memories at the sprawling cement high school. A graduate himself, Cummings watched his own son move the tassel on his mortarboard from the left to the right at the end of the commencement exercises at the Vito DeVito Field.

Cummings presented gold medals to Geoffrion and to Holton, noting that both young women were leaders and academic standouts in a very competitive class, and that both have already done much to improve the lives of others. Geoffrion organized a fundraising dinner to help a local family with financial and medical problems.

She also organized her Foran High classmates to respond when two Jonathan Law High students were killed in a motor vehicle accident in 2007, and a third died later of his injuries. "She showed compassion to our sister high school, getting students to wear black and gold, Jonathan Law's colors,'' Cummings said. "She also served as the liasion from Foran High to the Board of Education, answering the board's and the superintendent's questions with poise and confidence.''

Holton was injured during a charity fundraising race, but kept up her high grades in advanced placement courses and a busy schedule of activities, Cummings said. "It was evident that she was in considerable pain, but she never complained.''

Holton noted that she has had the opportunity to visit Prague, Budapest and the Andes Mountains, and to witness first-hand the inauguration of Barack Obama through Foran High. "But many of us have done remarkable, amazing things -- gotten a song on iTunes, been in the tai kwon do Olympics, or made a prom dress out of duct tape.

"Despite the moving walls and the lack of windows, most of us have learned important things here in the past four years,'' the salutatorian said. "But success is a lot more than having a lot of money or being famous. As my grandmother said, if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life.''

Geoffrion recalled that she had also been the speaker when the class graduated from eighth grade at East Shore Middle School, and said she is still teased about a corny joke she told then. The valedictorian urged her class of 248 to meet as many new people as possible, and to really listen to what other people have to say.

The class filed onto the field, boys in blue and girls in red, to cheers and snapping camera shutters. Taylor Mascia held up a large sign with "We love you Connor'' on it, for his brother. Every time a member of the band graduated a trumpet blast or a cymbal crash greeted the name.

And Principal John Barile drew the loudest applause, at the start of the ceremony, when he said: "Yes, it is sunny. Let's cheer for that.''

Frank Juliano. Original POST Click Here

To Read About Jonathan Laws Graduates and see more pictures Click HERE

Dennis McBride MD, Milford Health Director Comments on Swine Flu

Until a vaccine of novel H1N1 influenza (H1N1) is made, public health can only try to slow down but not eliminate the spread of the virus. While most people can tolerate H1N1, many with preexisting medical conditions (e.g. asthma, diabetes, etc.)cannot. To those people, H1N1 is not a “mild” flu.

Since the majority of H1N1 cases have occurred in persons under 18 years, schools are the focus of social distancing strategies.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website (www.cdc.gov) is a wealth of information. However, in the beginning of the H1N1 outbreak , CDC issued “Interim Guidance on School Closures” that was perplexing. Most state health departments, including Connecticut, follow CDC guidelines. (Note: NYC Department of Health stated that some actions they took in response to H1N1 were not following the CDC school closure guidelines.)

CDC stated that: “K-12 Schools: School dismissal is not advised for a suspected or confirmed case of novel influenza A (H1N1) and, in general, is not advised unless there is a magnitude of faculty or student absenteeism that interferes with the school’s ability to function.” Yet in other guidance CDC endorses school closure during a pandemic. Public health literature is replete with school closures as strategies to quell an influenza pandemic.

On the other hand, many advocate for school closure during this H1N1 pandemic. I pose a road less travelled—partial school closure. In the face of an outbreak of influenza-like-illness (ILI) at Foran High School, I elected not to close the school but to work with Dr. Harvey Polansky, Superintendent of Schools, to devise a plan to reduce the spread of ILI and yet continue essential education work. If we had been presented with an extremely virulent virus, such as a virus that caused the 1918Influenza pandemic, I would have closed the school. We were not in that situation. The decision to use partial closure of the high school was made to minimize risk of ILI transmission.

It is commonly accepted by public health and medical authorities that, for the most part, influenza transmission relies on close contact (less than 6ft)with symptomatic persons and length of time spent in with that person. The more close contacts a person has with symptomatic persons (through coughing, sneezing, or talking) and the longer the time spent with that person, the greater the risk of contracting the disease.

Dr. Polansky proposed 1/2 day of classes and no lunch in the cafeteria. The proposal met the public health criteria to decrease the time of the students exposure to a potentially infected student and the number of personal contacts that each student would have.

In public health and medicine, sometimes decisions have to be made before all of the data are in. The scientific literature on partial school closure for flu outbreaks is lacking, but “absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.” Using modeling research data from Glass’ 2008 study “Social contact networks for the spread of pandemic influenza in children and teenagers,” we have determined that contact hours can be reduced significantly with a partial closure schedule. With the two measures (decreasing class time and eliminating cafeteria lunches), we estimate a decrease in student contact exposure hours of about 40%.

In addition, school staff and teachers are on full alert to refer symptomatic students to the school nurse. The school building was cleaned and sanitized using CDC guidelines for H1N1.

After the partial closure was implemented, some positive things happened:

1. Those students that were ill with ILI stayed home.

2. The number of students presenting to the nurses with ILI symptoms decreased to
less than 3 per day.

3. School custodians report increased use of hand soaps and students report using
more hand sanitizers.

4. The absenteeism rose on the first day (by worried parents and sick students) but dropped significantly on the second day to moderately above absenteeism rates for this time of year.

5. School nurses contacted families of students known to have serious underlying
medical conditions and advised them to consult their doctors about antiviral medications.

6. Students are still on track to finish out the school year as scheduled.

In Milford, each school has a school nurse and they have been tracking school absenteeism and ILI for five years. When H1N1 cases were confirmed in the U.S., I requested that the ILI and absenteeism reporting efforts be shifted from weekly to daily reports. Thus we were able to detect approximately 20 students with ILI over a
24-hour period. This was the only school in Milford with an ILI outbreak. Partial school closure may not work everywhere, but should not be dismissed as an option to stem the pandemic.

The battle against H1N1 is far from over. Only thru strong community partnerships can we meet future challenges.

Original Letter Posted HERE

Flu Concern Curtails Foran Schedule

MILFORD - Joseph A. Foran High School will begin operating on a half-day schedule Wednesday until further notice as health officials try to minimize the threat of the H1N1 virus.

Officials said the school will start closing at noon to minimize time students spend togehter, after 12 youths in the past three days exhibited flu-like symptoms, which the Milford Health Department is referring to as influenza-like illness.

Affected students have been tested for swine flu, though results take a few days to confirm, said city Health Director Dr. A. Dennis McBride.

If more students become ill, it is possible the school could be shut down for a period of time, officials said, but that decision will be made on a day-by-day basis. Foran parents were notified Tuesday evening about the precautions through the city’s Connect-Ed telephone notification system, Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. said.

"Though we do not have a confirmed case of H1N1 Influenza A virus at this time, we are implementing these measures proactively to decrease contact among children and to limit the spread of infection. This strategy provides a way to protect the health of the students & staff while minimizing the impact on their education," McBride said.

Foran students will arrive at school Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. and be sent home at noon with no lunch period in an effort to keep large groups of students from congregating and lower the risk of transmitting the flu. The Health Department is not otherwise prohibiting use of the school building, McBride said.

Richetelli said officials hope the school will return to the normal full-day schedule next week, though it could happen as early as this week.

Richetelli said parents should visit Milford’s public school Web site, www.milforded.org for more information and another automated phone call regarding the schedule might go out.

Richetelli and McBride said there haven’t been reports at any other Milford schools of students with flu-like symptoms to cause concern or increased numbers of student absences.

School officials will ramp up cleaning the school."The mitigation strategy recommended by Dr. McBride is based on sound public health practice without hindering our education mission," said Superintendent of Schools

Harvey B. Polansky, in a prepared statement "The implementation of this strategy is necessary to decrease contact among our children thereby limiting the spread of infection."

Officials also advise parents to assume that the virus is present in the community and said anyone with underlying health conditions such as asthma or diabetes should take extra precaution and be monitored by a doctor.

Foran’s senior awards ceremony that had been scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday also is postponed.

By Susan Misur

Milford Graduates & Steps Up.

One of the most important days in a young persons lives ought to be graduation. This day is indicative of the years of hard work, study and accomplishment of building life's skills. It instills a lasting sense of pride and confidence, but most important knowledge is something that can never be taken away.

One quote I personally remembered I saw on a bumper sticker. The quote said that "if you think education is expensive try ignorance!" Than I remembered all those days when I had made bad choices that cost me dearly. To this day, despite being finished with college I still find plenty of challenges that lead me to frustration. One in particular that I have come to cope with is the cost of education as paid for by our property taxes. Of all the taxes we pay in life, by far this one is the most important. This tax determines the population of our prison system, the fate of our economy, the quality of our health care, the competence of our government leaders and our part in competing with the world. None of this can happen without first good kids from strong moral families, and next our community supporting quality education that instills hope and opportunity for every kids future.

One of the best tools that was given to me by my great many teachers whom I am indebted to for life are those valuable research skills and the learned humility of asking lots of questions when I lack the answers. Socrates, the great Greek philosepher once said "the only thing I know for certain is that I know nothing." This was alluding to to the fact that the more a person delves into knowledge the exponential explosion of unanswered questions ensues as a result of the initial answers to the original basic questions.

Socrates also said that "ignorance is the only terrible evil" as it renders a person a prisoner of their own mind, limiting that person to succeed in the basic mundane tasks only attainable by their limited scope of knowledge. Even this should not deter a person from wanting better, thankfully God gave us Eyes, Ears, and Speech and as such if one could just lay their ego aside asking questions and questioning everything is the first step in opening up to learning new things.

With this said I would personally like to congratulate each and every young person and adult who has had the great honor and privilege of a graduation, especially those youngsters who had a "moving up ceremony" as they will be moving on to High School next year. The future is yours, and as our current leaders wax and wane away what you have now learned through your trials and tribulations amid the annals of our great educational institutions will make you Americas next beacon of light guiding this country, state and town on behalf of your not so fortunate peers.

Milford's Foran High School Holds Bone Marrow Drive

Last Saturday the High Schoolers from Foran High School held a bone marrow drive at the Ansantawae Mason Lodge located on the town green. Paul Wydra who was an organizer and key volunteer at the event said the turnout was a success with nearly one hundred people making a personal donation of their DNA.

When asked if anyone from any elected position showed their support, he said that Independent Candidate Rocco Frank was the only high profile attendee. Frank said that he was "very proud of the charitable work of this event," citing the importance of this as monumental and significant to ailing people everywhere.

Frank also said "that his first cousin Anthony Caruso, now deceased, could have lived and been with us today if more people were available for marrow DNA matches." Frank said that "a donor match was eventually found in Germany, but unfortunately the match was not close enough."

Frank also said that you "never realize how important programs like this are until our loved ones are in need. I would consider my DNA match as the best day of my life, knowing that the 30 minutes I gave of myself today saved someones life and spared a family of grief and loss, I only pray that God bestowes me with such an honor."

The process of obtaining DNA was completely painless, it involved completing a basic questionnaire, and inserting four cotton swabs in the donors mouth. The swabs contain saliva that a laboratory will later extract for the purpose of constructing a DNA profile to be entered into a database that later could be used by those with illnesses requiring life saving Marrow.

Our many thanks to all those who participated in this program, and cared to help make a difference in the lives of others.